Nominee for TSA Chief Misled Congress About Personal Abuse of Law Enforcement Records

Flopping Aces ^ | 01-02-10 | Mike's America

[Starman417]

Is this the guy you want with access to YOUR private information?

Imagine if President Bush had nominated a man to head the Transportation Security Administration who had a past history of abusing highly sensitive law enforcement information for his own personal ends. There would be cries of "DOMESTIC SPYING" all over the place.

Also, what if the same man, when he went before Congress in confirmation hearings for the new post misled members of the Committee overseeing the process? That would be the end of it right?

But with the Obama Administration staffed at the highest levels with people who claim it was an "honest mistake" not to pay their taxes and others who professed an admiration for Chairman Mao, what's one more rule bender?

The Washington Post has the full story of Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent who abused access to highly confidential law enforcement databases to dig for information on the boyfriend of his estranged wife. That's a violation of the federal Privacy Act which states "any person who knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any record concerning an individual from an agency under false pretenses shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000." Southers was never prosecuted for his crime. These were incidents which occurred more than 20 years ago. Troublesome behavior for someone who would now be entrusted with the most sensitive personal data on airline travelers but perhaps forgivable. But then lying about it initially to Senators? Makes you wonder if perhaps Southers hasn't learned his lesson. Anyone else posting false or misleading information on a security background check for a sensitive government position would be automatically barred if such misdeeds became known. But then this is Obamaland where anything goes!